"The door is locked."
Half an hour later, Batman and Constantine stood at the mouth of a narrow alley. Weak streetlights cast dim reflections across damp pavement, barely illuminating the surroundings. At the far end, a trash can rattled softly. A stray cat rummaged through it, searching for scraps in the cold night. Winter had drained the place of warmth and life, leaving only silence and decay.
Batman lifted his gaze toward the worn residence ahead, his brow tightening. Constantine had claimed he would show him someone who could "peek," yet this rundown location was not what he expected.
"It was never locked before," Constantine muttered, pulling his yellow wool coat tighter as he exhaled cigarette smoke into the cold air.
A sign hung on the door. "Welcome, no need to fear."
Constantine knocked firmly. "Knock, knock, knock."
"I wonder if she foresaw my visit and decided to shut me out," he said, knocking again.
"Who?" Batman asked, his tone low.
"Madame Xanadu. Surprised you haven't heard of her. We go way back," Constantine replied.
Batman remained silent, unfamiliar with the name. Madame Xanadu was known among mages, though she kept a low profile. A descendant of the Ancient Ones, she possessed an unnaturally long lifespan and a mastery of ancient magic. Her gift of foresight surpassed even the most skilled diviners. Where others guessed, she saw.
"I'm not opening the door, Constantine."
Her voice came from inside, sharp and unwavering.
Constantine raised a hand to stop Batman from speaking. "Your door is always open to those in need, remember? That's what your sign says. Has that changed?"
He gestured toward the sign. "Batman, take that down. It's misleading."
Batman removed it, examining the front before flipping it over. "There's something written on the back."
Constantine leaned closer. The words read, "Unless you are Constantine."
Together, the message became clear. "Welcome, no need to fear, unless you are Constantine."
Constantine grimaced. "Charming."
Batman stepped forward. "Madame Xanadu, please hear us out."
"I already know what you want," she interrupted. "You want my help."
"You're not wrong," Constantine said, flicking ash to the ground. "But we have more to discuss."
A pause followed, then the door creaked open.
Madame Xanadu stood before them, her expression cold. Though no longer young, she carried a striking presence. A crescent mark adorned her forehead, and her gaze held a sharp, almost unsettling intensity.
"This isn't a conversation for the street," Constantine said.
She studied them briefly before stepping aside. "Fine. Come in."
Inside, the air was thick with incense and something older, something deeper. She shut the door behind them with finality.
"I've learned my lesson, John," she said, her voice edged with bitterness. "Whatever you're planning, I won't help you again."
Constantine followed her without hesitation. "I may have made mistakes, but none were intentional."
She did not respond.
They entered a dim divination room filled with strange instruments and softly glowing lanterns. Shadows clung to the walls as if reluctant to leave.
Constantine sat at the table. "Mind if I use your cards?"
Her glare sharpened. "Absolutely not."
He shrugged. "Then let Batman draw."
Batman glanced at him, wary but silent.
After a moment, Madame Xanadu nodded. "Fine. I trust him more than you."
She arranged the Tarot deck carefully and placed it before Batman.
"Draw two," Constantine urged.
Batman hesitated, then complied. He turned the cards over.
The Lovers.
Death.
Madame Xanadu froze. Her composure shattered instantly.
"How is this possible?" she whispered. "Jason Blood is dead?"
Constantine lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry. It's true."
Before he could say more, her hand struck his face with a sharp crack. Blood filled his mouth as he staggered slightly, the force leaving a red imprint across his cheek.
Jason Blood had meant everything to her.
Rage consumed her expression. "Don't pretend to care!" she shouted. "I saw the future. I know the truth. You are a liar, a selfish coward!"
Batman stepped forward. "You should hear how he died."
She slammed her hand against the table. The crystal ball rolled, Tarot cards scattering across the surface.
"I already know!" she shouted, sweeping the cards to the floor. "I don't need divination to understand this!"
She grabbed one card from the chaos and held it up.
The Devil.
"He lived for a thousand years under a demonic pact," she said, her voice breaking. "And he made one mistake."
Her eyes locked onto Constantine.
"He trusted you."
Constantine lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry."
"Leave."
Silence lingered for a moment before Constantine turned. "Let's go."
Outside, the cold air stung sharper than before. Constantine lit another cigarette, the faint glow illuminating his bruised face.
"She's just angry," Batman said quietly.
Constantine shook his head. "No. She's right."
Batman studied him. "I see someone trying to do the right thing."
Constantine let out a hollow laugh. "That's what I let you see."
"I'm not that easy to fool," Batman replied.
Constantine turned away, staring into the darkness. "You're the real hero. You carry the weight without letting it break you."
A brief silence passed.
Then Constantine spoke again. "I'll give you a chance to walk away."
Batman frowned. "What?"
"I'm trouble," Constantine said. "Stay close, and you'll regret it. You or someone you care about will get hurt."
Batman did not hesitate. "I'm not leaving."
Constantine smirked faintly. "Didn't think you would."
He glanced back at the house. "Give her ten minutes. Then we go back in."
Batman hesitated. "She told us to leave."
"I understand people better than you do," Constantine replied. "You're effective because you keep distance. You don't let yourself feel too much."
"That's not true."
Constantine exhaled smoke slowly. "If you truly understood them, the criminals you fight, you'd see parts of yourself in them. And that would make it harder to keep hitting them."
Batman said nothing.
"Time's up," Constantine said. "Ready?"
"For what?"
"Revenge."
When they returned inside, Madame Xanadu had regained control, though streaks of darkened tears marked her face.
"Jason Blood was more than a friend," she said quietly. "We were lovers."
Her voice hardened as she looked at Constantine. "I will never forgive you."
Constantine nodded. "Understood."
Batman stepped in. "It wasn't his fault."
She laughed bitterly. "Of course not."
Constantine cut in. "Do you know what killed him?"
She nodded. "The Spectre."
"Then you know what we're facing," Constantine said. "We need to stop him before we deal with Homelander."
She gathered her cards, her movements steady now. "What do you need?"
"Information," Batman said. "Anything that can help us stop him. The world is already bending to his will. Magic may be our only option."
She gestured toward the table. "Sit."
The crystal ball glowed as she channeled energy into it, violet light filling the room.
"Be careful," Constantine warned. "The Spectre is not something you take lightly."
"I know what I'm doing," she replied.
Far away in Gotham, Rachel lay trapped within a glowing magic circle. The intensified barrier had drained her strength. She could barely move, her body pressed against the cold ground.
Purple light pulsed around her, casting eerie shadows. Candles flickered at the edges, stabilizing the spell.
Her eyes drifted shut.
In her dream, Adrian searched desperately for her. He moved through cities and shadows, his expression filled with panic and fury. She stood beside him, unseen, her hand passing through him whenever she tried to reach out.
"Brother Adrian!"
He could not hear her.
His anger erupted. Crimson heat vision tore through the air, striking innocent people. The destruction was immediate and merciless.
"No, stop!" she cried.
She felt everything inside him. Pain, guilt, rage, regret. His emotions burned like fire, consuming him from within.
Then she saw something deeper.
A memory.
A young boy hanging from a broken branch over a cliff, slipping toward death. The fear, the helplessness, the unbearable weight of that moment filled Adrian's heart.
Rachel gasped and opened her eyes.
Still lying on the ground, she turned her head slightly.
An orange cat sat nearby, its green eyes fixed on her.
"Hey, kitty," she whispered weakly.
===
Get access to the entire catalog on Patreon, where all chapters are conveniently organized into collections.
If you prefer not to pay for a monthly membership, this is a more affordable option that gives you access to the content you want.
(Buying the collection gives you access to all chapters in it.)
Search for "_Zeph" on P@treon to get started.